Pursuing a personal injury claim after a bus accident starts with identifying the defendant(s). Several parties may be liable for bus accidents, including the bus company, the driver, another driver, a roadway maintenance crew, or a manufacturer. A bus accident attorney can help you determine who might be responsible and take steps toward pursuing a Houston claim.
Common bus Accident Injuries
Bus accidents are unique in that they almost always result in injuries to more than one party. Buses can hold dozens of passengers at once, opening the door to person-to-person collision injuries such as concussions in accidents. Most buses also do not have seatbelts and have many passengers standing up and holding straps or bars. The atmosphere of a bus makes for myriad opportunities for severe injuries in a collision. The most common bus accident injuries include:
- Bone fractures
- Muscle tears or dislocations
- Lacerations from broken glass or metal
- Head and brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
Bus-accident related injuries can land you in the hospital, with hefty medical bills and days of missed wages from staying home from work. You can also suffer damages such as property losses, physical pain, emotional suffering, and permanent disability.
In Texas, the civil court system gives injured accident victims an outlet for financial recovery. If you can prove someone else’s negligence caused your bus accident and related injuries, you could take home considerable compensation.
Duties of Care in the Bus Industry
Most bus accidents are not “accidents” at all – they are the result of someone’s preventable negligence. Common carriers like buses have higher duties of care since they offer public services. The law holds commercial drivers to higher standards than other drivers as well. It is worthwhile to speak to an attorney about all the laws and rules that may apply in your particular situation. Otherwise, you could miss out on the chance to pursue compensation for personal injury, disability, or wrongful death.
If you believe a bus driver or another entity breached accepted standards of care, which caused your accident, you likely have grounds to file a claim against the responsible party.
Keep in mind that many buses are under governmental jurisdiction. Bringing a lawsuit against the government or a municipality involves requirements like filing within a strict statute of limitations. This time frame is shorter than typical personal injury claims in Texas. If you need to file a lawsuit against a responsible party in Houston, you have 90 days from the date of the injury (or discovery of damage) to do so.
